Uniform Circular Motion Space Station question

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving uniform circular motion related to a proposed space station designed as a rotating tube. The goal is to determine the necessary rotation speed to simulate Earth's gravity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore different equations related to centripetal acceleration and rotational motion, questioning the correct interpretation of the radius and the formulas used. There is confusion regarding the application of the gravitational acceleration formula and the values for radius.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance and confirmed the validity of the calculations presented. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the acceptance of the results by the MasteringPhysics platform, indicating a lack of consensus on the correctness of the approach or the values used.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted confusion about the radius of the circular tube, with participants clarifying that the radius is 950m rather than 1900m, which may affect the calculations. Additionally, the original poster expresses frustration over repeated discrepancies in the expected answer.

winnayy
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Homework Statement


A proposed space station consists of a circular tube that will rotate about its center (like a tubular bicycle tire), as shown in the figure (http://session.masteringphysics.com/problemAsset/1057181/4/GIANCOLI.ch05.p048.jpg). The circle formed by the tube has a radius of about 1.9 km. What must be the rotation speed (revolutions per day) if an effect equal to gravity at the surface of the Earth (1.0g) is to be felt?

g = 9.8 m/s2
r = 1900m/2 = 950m

Homework Equations


g = (4\pir2/T2)

The Attempt at a Solution


Solve for T:
T = \sqrt{}(4\pir2/g)
T = 2\pi\sqrt{}(r/g)

Plug in known values:
T = 2\pi\sqrt{}(950m/9.8m/s2) = 61.86266614 sec/rev

Seconds in a day:
(24hr/day)(60min/hr)(60sec/min) = 86400sec

(86400s/day)/(61.86266614sec/rev) = 1396.642936 rev/day

Rounded to two significant figures, this is 1400 rev/day, but MasteringPhysics keeps telling me I'm wrong. I've tried another way finding the velocity and diving that into the circumference to get T, and I get the same answer... so I'm confused as to where my mistake lies.

Thanks in advance for the help!
 
Last edited:
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welcome to pf!

hi winnayy! welcome to pf! :smile:

(have a pi: π :wink:)

no, g isn't 4πr2/T2 :redface:

(and is r 1900 or 950? :confused:)
 
Thank you, Tim =).

g = 9.8 m/s2
r = 950m
(Sorry for the confusion.)

Using the formula for centripetal acceleration:
a = v2/r
9.8 = v2/950
v = 96.4883416 m/s

Rotation speed:
c = 2\pir = 5969.926942m
P = c/v = 5969.926942m / 96.4883416m/s = 61.86266592 s

Number of revolutions per day:
(24hr/day)(60min/hr)(60sec/min) = 86400s/61.86266592s = 1396.642041 rev/day

I still get the same number using a different equation? :(
 
Last edited:
hi winnayy! :smile:

your solution looks ok to me :confused:
 
ah~ It looks okay to me, too, so I can't figure out why Mastering Physics won't accept it x___x. Thank you, though, Tim!

edit: /facepalm. You were right to question what the radius was! I was reading incorrectly this whole time and blew the number they gave us to be the diameter, sigh. Thank you for your help, Tim =).
 
Last edited:

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